- Make With James
- Posts
- Direction > Speed
Most people rush after pleasure so fast that they rush right past it.
— Søren Kierkegaard
I’ve come across this concept twice this week, almost as if it were trying to tell me something.
See, I like to build things. Whether it’s woodwork or websites, the moment an idea strikes, I want to bring it to life—I want to see it. That works great for hobbies, but in business, it’s a different story (unless, of course, I’m an artist).
You might think that building something successful is all about speed—operating fast, staying ahead of competitors, keeping up with trends. But today’s concept challenges that idea:
Direction is more important than speed.
And I couldn’t agree more.
You can move at lightning speed, but if you’re heading in the wrong direction, you’ll never reach where you truly want to go.
If you’re playing the wrong game, rapid improvement doesn’t help—it just makes you better at something that doesn’t align with what your soul actually wants.
Imagine spending years climbing the corporate ladder, only to realize you value freedom more than status or money. All that effort, all that speed—wasted on the wrong path. Choosing the right game from the start means that every step, no matter how slow, moves you toward a life that genuinely fulfills you.
It’s easy to get misled. Family, friends, social media—everyone seems to have an opinion on what you should do. But only you know what game you truly want to play.
Speed also creates the illusion of progress. When you’re going fast, you rarely stop to ask why you’re doing something. Execution takes over, and you lose sight of the bigger picture. By the time you realize you’re off course, you’ve already spent so much energy and momentum that changing direction feels even harder.
Ironically, focusing on direction first actually gets you where you want to be faster. If you spend five years sprinting in the wrong game, you’ll end up so far off track that course correction will take even longer.
Sometimes, the best way forward is through baby steps—even when the whole world is screaming at you to speed up. One centimetre forward is always better than one millimetre in a thousand directions.
— James
Tools & Websites
Dumb Phone is an app that turns your iPhone into a dumb phone to help you break your bad phone habits. Your phone becomes minimalist, with just the certain apps that you allow.
Radiocast is a worldwide map of 8,000+ local FM radios. The type of project that makes you love the internet.
ChainGPT Labs is the venture capital and incubation division of ChainGPT. Not that I like that, but they also have a brilliant animated website (ChainGPT's website is also worth a look) ↓
James’ Library
Article | I discovered Karen Rosenkranz with this lovely post, and it really hit home. We’re all chasing a frictionless existence, forgetting that humans and human interactions were never meant to be that way—driving us further into the blue glow of our screens. We have become used to the ease and convenience of our digital lives, and we expect the same offline. A slick, transactional, no-strings-attached kind of life, predictable and controllable. It’s the over-researching of a travel destination, checking out all the best bars and scenic spots before you arrive (I’m very guilty of this and often regret it) rather than just exploring a place or asking a local for recommendations. It’s the last-minute cancelling of plans, the Uber driver or your date because you found a better option. It’s the seemingly never-ending wave of curation. |
Book  | In Cabin, Will Jones takes us on his own cabin-building adventure and goes through a quick history of how cabins came to be. If you like to dream about this sort of thing, need inspiration, or want tips to build your own cabin, this beautiful book was made for you.  |
…Aesthetic Corner…
 Surprisingly, most of the sky is actually beneath your feet  Czechochechnyoslovenoslovakia |  A map of pizzerias in Italy |
I just discovered Terrible Maps, and what. a. blast. I'll let you see for yourself, but beware of the rabbit hole. You can find them on all socials, and they even made a book!
 |  |
The VA-1, by Vox Aeris, is an innovative air purifier that combines sound and technology to clean indoor air. While the team has since pivoted to commercial and industrial applications, this award-winning project earned widespread recognition for its elegant design and innovative concept.
Sustainable Living
Mas des Écoliers is a retreat venue I discovered while searching for new locations for my website, Lieux de Retraites. Last year, they added a beautiful new space to their already stunning property: a tiny house named L’Atelier.
Designed with sustainability in mind, L’Atelier runs on solar power, features an innovative automated composting toilet system, and stays warm with a cozy wood stove that heats the entire space in no time.
I love showcasing small places in this section of the newsletter—but only those where living still feels enjoyable. L’Atelier is proof that we don’t need more space; we just need to design it better.
Friends of James
Beehiiv — the powerhouse behind all my newsletters, helping me craft, design, grow my audience, and monetize effortlessly.
Notion — my go-to tool for the last 6+ years, where I store all my notes, manage tasks, and essentially run both my life and businesses.
Webflow — the engine behind all my websites, letting me design, build, and launch seamlessly without code.
Make — the tool that runs my business on autopilot, handling all recurring and time-consuming tasks
*these are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. Your support directly helps keep this newsletter going ✌️
Reply